Get my 3 Things for Thursday

Natural Birth Control – Options & Suggestions

Now that Michael and I have two lovely children, we’re thinking our family is complete.

There was definitely some grief in making this decision because I lovepregnancy, giving birth, baby kisses, breastfeeding and everything that surrounds it. I know that a part of me will grieve indefinitely as childbearing is a tremendous honor and gift.

But in my heart, I know that two is my number. Thankfully, Michael and I agreed on this 🙂

So what’s a mama to do about natural birth control?

Many people have asked me what I’m doing for natural birth control. To be honest, Michael and I were convinced of one approach, until we did the research. More on that below.

In this post you’ll find an overview of what’s available for couples… both conventional and natural options. I know many families who choose not to use any “control” and let God be in charge. I think that’s beautiful. Ultimately, whatever you chose to do is between you and your partner.

Before we start – a special gift for you

Let’s look at the birth control options.

1. The Pill

The most popular form of birth control is oral contraception or “The Pill.” Approved for contraceptive use in the U.S. in 1960, it’s currently used by more than 100 million women worldwide and by almost 12 million women in this country. I discourage any woman from taking this type of contraception unless absolutely necessary due to the potentially dangerous side effects of synthetic hormones, particularly estrogen. Studies show that by taking the birth control pill, a woman increases her risk for blood clots, heart disease, breast and cervical cancer not to mention weight gain, tender breasts and depression. I’ll never forget my best friend getting off of the pill after nearly a decade of use and she had to go on antidepressants just to deal with the hormonal swings and detox effect. She was eventually able to wean off of all medications. Effectiveness rate: With “perfect” use (i.e. no missed pills, proper prescription strength for woman, etc.), you’re looking at 99.7%. For typical use, you’re looking at a 92-98% effectiveness rate.

2. Condoms

The second most popular form of birth control is the condom. Rising in popularity with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, condoms are an inexpensive option that can help prevent sexually transmitted diseases as well as pregnancy. Interesting to note, condoms were around in the 18th century condoms and typically made from either linen treated with chemicals, or “skin” taken from an animal’s bladder or intestine and then softened with sulphur and lye. I’m not a fan of conventional condoms due to the materials used like chemical-laden latex, non-stick agents, and other ingredients, which can cause irritation to the vaginal area. I also don’t recommend the condoms that include lubrication as these are made of artificial (and potentially toxic) materials that have no business being up in a woman’s vaginal with its delicate pH. Additionally, spermicidal condoms contain nonoxynol-9, which in studies, increases the chance of vaginal lesions (!), STDs and HPV. In terms of latex, some chemicals are added during the manufacture process to speed up drying. This creates nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Additionally, body fluids can cause these nitrosamines to be released while you’re having sex! YUCK! While the risk is low, it would still be best to avoid. For the 1% of people who need a non-latex option due to allergies, you have a few alternatives. Similar to how condoms were originally manufactured, Trojan sells a lamb skin condom that is made out of a thin layer of sheep cecum, a part of the intestine. Yes, I know it doesn’t sound appealing, but it is sanitized for safety and is certainly more “natural” than latex sprayed with various agents and chemicals. Additionally, the lamb skin condom is thinner, which can provide more pleasure for the man. Oil lubricants, think coconut oil, can be used safely unlike the latex condoms. Keep in mind that lamb skin condoms do *NOT* protect against any STDs like HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the lambskin condom comes “lubricated” and I couldn’t confirm what ingredients are used. Some claim that the lambskin is more porous than latex. I know a very fertile couple that have used with great success. Use at your discretion. The other two latex-free options are synthetic condoms made of polyurethane, which is “a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams.” Or a smoother and softer condom made of polyisoprene, which is synthetic version of latex which doesn’t produce an allergic reaction. Condom effectiveness rate: 98% with perfect use. For typical use, 82%

3. Withdrawal Method

Otherwise known as coitus interruptus (I’m not making this up!), pull out, or spills and thrills, this is when the man pulls his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. Perhaps one of the oldest forms of birth control, approximately 35 million couples rely on the withdrawal method for birth control worldwide. Keep in mind that even if a man pulls out in time, pregnancy can still happen. Pre-ejaculate can pick up enough sperm left in the urethra from a previous ejaculation to cause pregnancy. To prevent this, a man can urinate between ejaculations before having sex again and it will help clear the urethra of sperm, increasing the effectiveness of withdrawal. Pregnancy is also possible if semen or pre-ejaculate touches the vulva. While not the most effective form, it is certainly a very natural birth control option. Effectiveness rate: If done correctly, 96%. Actually “real world” effectiveness, 73%

4. Diaphragms

Made of either silicone or latex, a diaphragm is a shallow, dome-shaped device that’s inserted into the vagina to prevent the egg and sperm from meeting. Diaphragms are usually used in conjunction with a spermicide to be effective. I’m not a fan of spermicides in general for several reasons. Keep in mind that most are made with a harmful ingredient, nonoxynol-9.

Effectiveness: 94% if always used correctly, 88% if mostly used correctly

Note that some mamas have reported using diagrams without spermicide to great success. This approach would certainly make a diaphragm a more natural option. But there’s not a ton of data on the subject.

This study followed women who used diaphragms without spermicide continuously, meaning that they only took their diaphragms out during their daily showers to wash them. In the study, diaphragms worn continuously without spermicide were more effective (97%) than diaphragms used with spermicide only at the time of intercourse (90%).

Keep in mind that this was a small study. There’s not much data on diaphragms without spermicide, so your mileage may vary.

Milex Omniflex Style Diaphragm

5. Intrauterine Device (IUDs)

An IUD is a small, T-shaped device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus by a health care provider to prevent pregnancy. There are two types available in the U.S. — one that uses copper (ParaGard) and one that uses hormones (Mirena or Skyla). The copper one provides 2, 5, or even up to 10 years of protection and can be removed at any time. While it sounds like a dream come true, I would be very careful with this method. By inserting copper into your body, you are setting yourself up for a potential zinc deficiency (since it can compete with copper) and a whole host of medical issues associated with copper toxicity. Although western medicine denies such a condition exists, I know too many people who experienced this to agree. Manufacturers insist that the copper released is minuscule and that it stays in the uterus, I trust women’s experiences more. Copper toxicity can lead to things like allergies, depression, weight gain and some believe even cancer. Effectiveness rate: 99% The other IUD called Mirena or Skyla, releases small amount of progestin and is effective between 3 and 5 years. I don’t think this is the ideal option because it can interfere with hormone balances in the body. Our hormones work in a wonderful symphony with one cascading unto the other. Anecdotal experience suggests that if you supplement with a hormone, your body will eventually stop producing it to protect the overall balance in the body. Problem is… when you decide to go off of it, your body will take time to recover and can cause major havoc until it finally normalizes. Boo! In regards to these progestin IUDs, 12% of users reported ovarian cysts, which is a telltale sign of inflammation. We all know inflammation is a precursor to all forms of disease… so best to avoid if you can! Effectiveness Rate: 99%

6. Natural Family Planning

The most popular form of natural birth control is Natural Family Planning (NFP). This practice limits sexual intercourse to naturally infertile periods; including portions of the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and after menopause. It excludes the use of other methods of birth control, which the Catholic Church deems “artificial contraception.” Another secular term for this practice is Fertility Awareness or some still call it Natural Family Planning. There are three main types of NFP: breastfeeding or lactational amenorrhea method, the calendar-based methods, and the symptoms-based methods.

6a. Lactational Amenorrhea Method

After we give birth, most women don’t get their period till at least 2 months postpartum. However, if a woman is exclusively breastfeeding her child, it can be much longer until her menses return. The condition is called lactational amenorrhea and it can be used as a natural form of birth control. However, in order for this to method to work, the breastfeeding woman must: 1.) not have had a period since birth, 2.) her baby must be 6 months or younger 3.) she must nurse her child exclusively 4.) and nurse at least every 4 hours during the day and go no longer than 6 hours without nursing during the night. If you have all of these conditions met, you can use this as a form of birth control in the short-term. Keep in mind, like all of the other birth control methods presented here, nothing is 100% effective except complete abstinence. Some women ovulate before they get a period so there’s a vulnerable “window” where pregnancy can occur. I still hear stories of moms who get pregnant using this form of birth control, despite what studies say, so be cautious. Effectiveness: 98% if above-mentioned conditions are present These next methods listed below are recommended for women who have pretty consistent cycles and are generally healthy. They also take discipline and menstrual chart logging. A woman’s fertility depends on the life span of the egg and the sperm. Generally, an egg lives for about a day after ovulation while sperm can live inside the female body for about six days so you’re looking at a 7-8 day window of fertility per month. This includes the five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and 1-2 days after ovulation. These are general guidelines and every woman is different that’s why it’s so important to know your own cycles well when practicing this method. The key is to know what day you ovulate each month.

6b. Calendar-based Method

Calendar-based methods estimate the likelihood of fertility based on the length of past menstrual cycles. This method doesn’t rely on physical symptoms of fertility. In this practice, it’s recommended that you chart your menstrual cycle for at least 6 months, if not 12, to become very familiar with its “rhythm” before you implement these forms of natural birth control. Rhythm Method: As a form of birth control, you apply the following formula: To find the estimated length of the pre-ovulation infertile phase, nineteen days (some say 18) are subtracted from the length of the woman’s shortest cycle. To find the estimated start of the post-ovulation infertile phase, ten days (some say 11) are subtracted from the length of the woman’s longest cycle. As you can see, for some people this means a substantial time of abstaining from sexual intercourse throughout a month. Effectiveness: With perfect use and very consistent cycles, 91%. Real world effectiveness rate: 76%.Standard Days Method In order to do The Standard Days method, you need to have regular cycles that come every 26-32 days. You also cannot have unprotected vaginal intercourse from day 8 through day 19 of each cycle. Most women use special strings of beads called CycleBeads that help them keep track of their cycles with different colors of beads indicating what days are safe and unsafe to have unprotected sex. Effectiveness rate: 95%

6c. Symptoms-based Method

The symptoms-based method of NFP tracks biological signs of fertility. The three primary signs of a woman’s fertility are:

her basal body temperature,

her cervical mucus,

and her cervical position.

Let’s unpack all three.

Cervical Mucus

Some systems use only cervical mucus to determine fertility. Commonly called the Ovulation Method or Cervical Mucus Method (CMM), a woman learns how to identify the thicker cervical mucus that accompanies ovulation. The thicker mucus “catches” the sperm and increases the chances of getting pregnant. Two well-known mucus-only methods are the Billings Ovulation Method and the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. The Creighton Model looks at the vulvar discharge of cervical mucus, the type of mucus, the days with no mucus and the presence of bleeding to inform couples on the phases of fertility and infertility and the state of the woman’s procreative and gynecologic health. Inspired by the Creighton Model, NaProTECHNOLOGY has expanded the uses of this system into the treatment several gynecologic conditions like PCPOS, infertility, premenstrual syndrome, and they continue to expand with further research. While everyone’s different, the general pattern of cervical fluid throughout a month’s time includes:

dry or sticky

to creamy, like lotion

to wet and watery

to a raw egg white consistency (most fertile time)

back to dry and sticky

Cervical Position

Outside of ovulation, our cervixes are relatively low and firm (think the firmness of your nose). During ovulation and our fertility time, however, our cervixes become higher and softer (think the softness of lips) than normal. It’s best to practice feeling your cervix several times throughout a cycle so you can feel how it changes.

Basal Body Temperature

In most women, our basal body temperature will go up at least four-tenths of a degree (usually more like 1/2 a degree) for at least 3 consecutive days after ovulation. For this marker to be effective, you need to take your temperature at the same time, or with no more than a 30 minute difference, each day. You’ll need a Basal Body Thermometer (where to buy). Each night, set your thermometer by your bedside. When you get up, immediately reach for thermometer and take temperature either orally or under arm pit. Let the thermometer stay in mouth for up to 5 minutes to be sure you have your true temperature. Do not get up to go to the bathroom or have a sip of water or even move before you take your temperature as this can throw off results. If you’re breastfeeding in the night or get up to pee, be sure that you have 4 consecutive hours of sleeping before you take your temperature. If you want a more sophisticated tool to measure temperatures, you could purchase a Lady-Comp Fertility Monitor (where to buy). While it is definitely pricey (!), the company stands behind a 99.3% accuracy rate and people stand behind its effectiveness. And if you think of it, the price can be cheaper than the other methods over the long-term. If two or more signs (cervical mucus, cervical position, and temperature) are tracked, the method is referred to as a Sympto-Thermal Method or STM. STM typically combines charting of the basal body temperature and cervical mucus with other optional indicators, such as changes in the cervix and secondary fertility signs (acne, breast tenderness, etc.) Sympto-Thermal Systems are taught by the Couple to Couple League, Various Diocesan Programs and the secular Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) taught by Toni Weschler. She outlines the details of her method in her book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility (where to buy). Her book also references saliva/urine tests (see below) as other tools you can use to determine your fertile/infertile periods. All of this can be tracked manually using these forms. And Katie Singer’s Garden of Fertility is also an awesome book regarding natural fertility awareness (where to buy). You can also chart your fertility signs on your phone with different apps (where to buy for iPhone and Android). Effectiveness Rate: A study completed in Germany in 2007 found that the Sympto-Thermal method has a method effectiveness of 99.6%.

Sympto-Hormonal Method (SHM)

The method that observes several signs of fertility and adds the use of an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) or fertility monitor is called the “Sympto-Hormonal Method” or “SHM.” I like the ovulation urine tests because they are relatively inexpensive and accurate (where to buy). You can also use a saliva test to determine our more fertile times of the month (where to buy). Various diocesans, Marquette University’s Institute, and some Fertility Awareness programs make use of the SHM. And the king of all fertility symptom monitoring is the OvuCue. It measures and tracks daily saliva and cervical mucus samples to measure changes in electrolyte concentration (and therefore hormone output). Definitely an investment, many moms love it and the company promotes a 98% effectiveness rate.

Permanent Options

1. Vasectomy

A male surgical option, a vasectomy is when a doctor block the vas deferens tubes to keep sperm out of the seminal fluid. Instead, the sperm are absorbed by the body rather than being ejaculated. This is designed to be a permanent solution to birth control, although there are successful attempts at reversing effects. Effectiveness Rate: Nearly 100%if the man uses other forms of birth control for the first 3 months post surgery.That’s because sperm remains beyond the blocked tubes and it takes a few months for it to be all used up. Very rarely (1 in 1,000 cases), the tubes will grow back and cause pregnancy. That’s why it’s imperative that the man return to doctor 3 months after procedure to be sure that it worked. Also important to note: approximately 15-20% of vasectomy patients report pain, sometimes many years after procedure. It’s called post-vasectomy pain syndrome, and the symptoms can be from mild groin pain or irritation to debilitating, life-altering pain. Some find relief by reversing the vasectomy.

2. Sterilization or Tubes Tied

A permanent birth control procedure for women is sterilization, often referred to as “getting tubes tied” in which a healthcare provider will go in and tie and sever the fallopian tubes. This is called tubal ligation. The fallopian tubes also can be closed with clips, clamps, or rings (OUCH!) Many women who have planned c-sections may opt for this procedure since they will be having an incision already. For other mamas, it is a more invasive surgery when compared to the vasectomy for men. As with any surgery, there are risks with anesthesia, infection, post pain and healing, and so forth. It is also more permanent than a vasectomy as reconnecting fallopian tubes is much more difficult and expensive. Effectiveness Rate: Nearly 100%

What other natural mamas are doing

I asked the moms on my Facebook page what they’re doing about natural birth control, and around 500 of them replied. Their responses looked like this.

So, what are Michael & I going to do about natural birth control?

For now we are doing a blend of NFP and condoms. While I love NFP, I do know several people who got pregnant while using this form of birth control (including with twins!), so that’s why we combine with condoms (this is the brand we use).

Full disclosure

Before I wrote this post, we figured Michael would get a vasectomy. But now we’ve decided to skip that route.

One of Michael’s friends has some adverse effects after getting a vasectomy. Then we learned that 15-20% of vasectomy patients report pain, sometimes many years after procedure. As I mention above, it’s called post-vasectomy pain syndrome, and the symptoms can be from mild groan pain or irritation to debilitating, life-altering pain. (Sources at the very bottom of the references list below.)

Enjoy this post?It would mean so much to me if you comment or share…

218 Comments

Marissa Feb 12 at 2:19 pm

We did pull out successfully for 3 years, until we were ready to try again for our second child. Having gotten our first child on the very first try, we knew that we are very fertile. So, it worked until we ‘went all the way’ while trying for baby #2. We achieved baby #2 on the first try as well! A few weeks after her birth, he got a vasectomy. So, we are back to the pull out method until his 3 month post op check up. Baby is 4 months old now. I’m EBF and haven’t gotten a period yet!!! What a treat because I got my period pretty quickly last time, despite EBF as well. I did have a csection with our first and a VBAC with our second, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it. We are beyond blessed, in so many ways.

Heather Feb 10 at 7:43 am

I use natural family planning with temping and breastfeeding, as my cycles are 33-36 days and have been since I was a teenager. I nearly always have a 12 day Luteal Phase, so I can know when to pack the menstrual cup and pads, and nursing my daughter for 2.5 years kept my period away for over a year! Following those charts though would be disastrous for birth control, but very beneficial to the catholic church… if I were catholic. 😛 Temp charting has allowed me to know when to pack the menstrual cup/undies, when I’ll be needing extra sleep or be very cranky, and when I’ll probably feel a boost of energy so planning a trip to the zoo or museum is a good decision. All from a temperature chart. Natural really is a healthy, easy way to go. Just 4 minutes a morning, take my temp and Fertility Friend chart the temp!

Zaina Keeley Feb 9 at 11:35 am

I wanted to share a great natural spermicide. It is named Contragel and it is wonderful. I have used it with a diaphragm for 15 years. No pregnancies, no vaginal lesions, which did happen with the usual spermicide. A great thing for your readers to know about.

Anna Feb 2 at 8:15 am

My husband and I just had our second child before this we had 2 confirmed miscarriages due to the nexplanon implant the first while the implant was in. According to the information I was given when I got it and later when the miscarriages happened things were not how the doc portrayed.I will be looking into some of the methods I’ve read about here so thank you for your post.

Sandeep Kumar Jan 24 at 4:59 am

Great suggestions and very well detail Genevieve. Thank you so much, you clear all my doubts and help me to choose a right path for birth control instead of taking medicines for it. Keep up the good work

Anna Feb 2 at 8:18 am

Rachel Nov 3 at 10:59 am

Love the FemCap! I use it with ContraGel-no nonoxynol9!! I’ve also used an app called iPeriod by Winkpass. I’ve charted through it for years and it’s done phenomenally for me. It will send you a little reminder that your period is due, which kept me from forgetting to chart it in the app. Super effective, all three tools.

Erin Oct 31 at 11:56 am

This is a great article. However, I was surprised to see that under the sterilization or tubes tied section stating that its 100% effective. I believe that is incorrect and false information. I have volunteered at a pregnancy center for 7 years and have had multiple ladies come in pregnant even after having their tubes tied. Whether it’s the doctor not doing it correctly or something else going on, it’s not always 10% effective. I think more women need to know that before doing the procedure.

Erin Oct 31 at 11:57 am

Kaity CNM Oct 24 at 5:35 pm

Just a note from a friendly midwife that leaving a diaphragm in like was mentioned in the paragraph about them above is actually very much discouraged and can lead to toxic shock syndrome, bacterial infections, etc. 🙂 No one should be leaving their diaphragms or cervical caps in for more than 24 hours.

Lisa Aug 26 at 8:08 pm

Thank you for this info. Our family has been trying to decide what to do after our 2nd baby. I can’t use any hormone-based method because I had a blood clot while being on the pill. We also (for health and religious reasons) would like a more natural method but didn’t know where to start. Can someone help with this question though?: I had looked into a new app: “natural cycles” but it ‘learns’ your cycle after entering your info for so many months..this means it works after so many menstrual cycles. Well, I’m breastfeeding and haven’t had my period yet. I didn’t have it for one year after my first baby. Is the LadyComp something I can use instead?

Christine Aug 25 at 10:02 pm

FYI: Some of the birth control methods are/can be abortive, so I suggest to anyone before using a type of method do your research. Examples: The Pill’s back-up method and the IUD ruin the lining where a FERTILIZED egg would implant, so that it can’t implant.

Naresh Choudhary Aug 3 at 7:31 am

Even I was looking out for an effective birth control option. I really liked the way you have stated the pros & cons of all the birth controls method available. I have even downloaded your pdf. Thanks it was a very informative blog.

Amanda Williams Jul 29 at 2:22 pm

Carrie Jun 28 at 9:02 am

I got pregnant three times fast while ebf, even tandem feeding with my first set of kids. They were 13,15,17 months apart. I got a tubal ligation after the fourth and it was by cauterizing which you didn’t mention. There is a 70% chance of eptopic pregnancy by 10 years if you don’t do it by this method. You did not mention PTLS, post tubal ligation syndrome. Ligation put your body in premenopausal state till you go into full menopause. It disrupts hormone flow and causes a huge list of issues that can cause severe endocrine issues. I was miserable once 5 years post came around. Cysts, headaches, thyroid issues, weight gain. I got a reversal done 7 years later with one tube repaired for $$6200 including hotel shuttle meds hospital dr the whole package. By the leading specialist. He was the first dr to do this in the USA and also perform first invitro surrogacy. I have since had three more children I have ebf and my periods were not normal even by two years. I took vitex tincture and not trying got pregnant that first month each time. I was still nursing every two hours 24/7 when I got pregnant but they where eating food also by then. Please update research to include cautery with tl, ptls and there is a new form of a new permanent for woman where they burn out tt woman layers of the uterus so nothing can attach. Available last 8 years, sorry I do not remember the name of the procedure. I have not had luck checking bbt since you need 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep before checking temp. I am nursing two right now 4 years and one 4 months but the baby only gets up once a night so I am hoping to have luck with Nfp this time around

Christin, WHNP Jul 11 at 6:14 pm

The burning of the uterus is called an ablation, which is used to stop heavy periods. The most common is called a NovaSure. An ablation is NOT intended to be used for birth control. Although a woman can get pregnant after having this done, she will always miscarry as the lining needed will not grow. A good provider will make sure the pt has another form of birth control in place before doing an ablation.

Elle Jun 14 at 7:42 am

There is another method of NFP that uses hormones rather than symptoms — cutting straight to the source — and is extremely effective postpartum for those who don’t meet the LAM criteria. This is the Marquette Method which uses the ClearBlue Fertility Monitor to track estrogen and leutinizing hormone levels. Please add this to your article! I wish I had known about this method sooner and I appreciate that with it there is less chance for error when tracking hormone levels rather than the symptoms cause by these same hormones!

Jessica Soppet Jun 10 at 10:55 am

Thank you for explaining more about the natural methods and not just lumping them all in with the “rhythm method.” I also have PCOS and use the Sympto a Thermal method. Only our first was a surprise because I hadn’t ovulated since we learned the method and he was Ovulation 1 after 6 months of marriage. We were able to avoid for 22 months after he was born even with long irregular periods. We now have number two who was planned and this will likely be it for us because of my age and post birth complications. We intend to use this method until menopause. I would also like to share that my parents successfully used the Sympto Thermal method to limit their family to 3. My youngest sister turns 31 this year.

Charles F Robey May 30 at 2:37 am

After Vasectomy a man’s chances of getting Prostate Cancer goes up 80%.My wife and I have 6 kids and we are considering having another just to break the tie lol as we have 3 and 3. Right now we are using both condoms and NFP she was on the pill for a few months but the pill was causing her to have Migraine headaches while she was on her period so she stopped taking the pill all together..

Christin Jul 11 at 5:46 pm

Stephanue Jul 26 at 11:46 pm

I have heard there is a possible link between vasectomy and cancer but I have not seen where this is published. Do you have a reference of some sort? I do not tend to believe everything published concerning no link because there is too much $ and progressive agendas behind trying to hide any link. For years doctors said there was no link between hormone replacement therapy and cancer, but we now know there is a link. Thanks.

Katie May 11 at 10:40 am

We’ve been using nfp for three years now and love it! We have one “oops” baby due to my error in calculating during a weeeirrddd cycle. Her birth was certainly God’s plan and I wouldn’t change a thing! We plan to use NFP forever!

Christine Apr 29 at 1:03 pm

Well, we tried a combo of NFP and condom use..and ended up with 3 surprises in a row! 🙂 And I was being SUPER careful when I conceived the last one (around day 25 of my cycle). We’re grateful for each one of our children, but that made for a total of four kids and one frazzled mama, so, after the last one, my husband had a vasectomy. Other couples we know though have had great success with NFP, so, if it works for you, great. Just be prepared that a surprise may come if even just one cycle is a little off!

Heidi Apr 24 at 5:31 pm

I have horrendously painful periods to the point I pass out and writhe around in agony and can’t eat or do anything for two days. I suspect it’s endometriosis but I don’t want to have the operation to diagnose it. Hormonal birth control is the only thing that makes me able to live a normal life and hold down a job, but the hormones really mess with my emotions and make me depressed and turn me into a crazy woman as well as ruining my usually high sex drive. I have tried every natural option I can find but nothing works, so I’m forced back onto hormonal contraceptives every time. We have been happy with a mixture of condoms and BBT/LH tests using an app for contraception, which makes it even more frustrating to be forced into taking hormonal contraceptives when I have a better contraceptive method I’m happy with. What would you suggest for someone in my position?

Ailene Jul 13 at 5:59 pm

Christine Aug 25 at 10:07 pm

Sorry to heart about your terrible period woes. Maca and Saw Palmetto herbs may help you. Try for at least 6 months as natural treatments take a while. If you get healed, then take these herbs for life and then try different birth control method.

Elle Jan 15 at 4:54 am

WOW, that sounds like me. I was on lo lo estrin for years because my cramps would make me throw up, then dry heave every mins. I lived on the bathroom floor. Well, I gained weight. My doctor said it wasn’t the pill. I used to be 120. I’m currently about 165 lbs. When I first started on the pill I was using Avian. Then for whatever reason she put me on Lo Lo estrin. After YEARS I realized it was making me SO hungry. So a few months back I figured it out and asked to be put back on Avian. CVS didn’t have it so they gave me Sronyx. And I have been less hungry but super super super tired. Like I don’t want to work out, go to work, go out. I left a message asking my doc if I can get off of it for a month just to see if I lose weight. However, I’ve been on the pill (in general) for so long that I’m nervous I’m going to have to be off of it for months. But I need something that’s going to prevent me from getting cramps and dry heaving. My ribs and throat hurt the next day.

With Lo Lo Estrin I didn’t have my period, but maybe once a year. I LOVED it. With Sronyx I have it, but the cramps and bleeding are little but still icky after not having it for years. I still feel pretty bad on it.

Elle Jan 15 at 4:58 am

jenn Apr 9 at 2:07 am

Hi there. Thanks for all the great info u have shared. Just wanted to add a major side effect of the pill I was on…not mentioning specific brand. About 6 months ago I noticed my hair was getting very thin. I have 5 children so I am used to seeing a lot of change in my hair through pregnancies and breast feeding etc. I didn’t give much thought to it til one day I noticed a bald spot about the size of a quarter on top of my head. It took me a couple weeks to figure out it was the pills (online research…millions of women reporting same side effects!) I went off the pills immediately (cold turkey and mid cycle) never to return. Over the course of the next 8 to 10 weeks I lost about 60% of my head hair in huge patches. Now, 6 months later my hair is coming back in nicely. So glad I stopped taking them when I did. I feel so much better emotionally and physically (as the pills were also causing debilitating migraines).

Marie Apr 5 at 5:27 pm

Hi Genevieve, I absolutely love you site. I just wanted to share that some forms of birth control cause early chemical abortions like the pill or the IUD. Many women do not know this. Also openness to life is life giving to the spiritual relationship of husband and wife. NFP doesn’t do violence to the relationship of spouses. It is simply abstaining from love making during times of fertility when their is a good emotional, physical reason to avoid pregnancy. But each time spouses do comes together they are open to the possibility of the gift of life that comes from their union. Great conversation! Brave Gal!

Lisa Feb 23 at 11:07 pm

I have Asthma, Depression, ADD, a stroke as a baby, an Inverted Uterus, and an Over-active Bladder. The Deprovera shot is supposed to stop me from conceiving a child for 12-14 weeks. It has apparently taken care of the heavy menses and the lower back pain that is accompanied by the heavy cycle because of the inverted uterus. I’m just wondering if this shot is going to worsen the heavy flows and cause some mood swings after I don’t have the shot. Also how long would it take for me to conceive?

Vexare Mar 31 at 1:36 pm

I do NOT recommend the depo shot to ANYONE. I know that people are very fast to throw away side effects, but side effects matter. Long use of the depo and even some short term depending on how easily medications affect you, can cause serious side effects. One guaranteed is bone damage over time, and this is in anyone who takes it. Another of the obvious is cancer.. and these are just two of a huge list of problems

Nut Nov 19 at 12:01 pm

I used depo shot for 8 years straight. Ended up with chemically induced menopause, no periods, more broken bones than I can count, and all the menopause symptoms. I DO NOT recommend it to anyone. It has a BLACK BOX WARNING!!!!!! Doctors never explained how bad it was.

Team Mama Natural Nov 21 at 12:38 pm

Holly Feb 22 at 7:13 am

I had a tubal during my last birth. I have four children and now the youngest is 2, but I am finding myself sad about the tubal and no more babies. I don’t do pregnancy well, I get very I’ll and 3 out of the 4 births were very hard and having any more children wouldn’t be smart because of my issues and four is definitely good. But I still find myself wistful…I love babies a lot. Wish one day maybe I could adopt.

Holly Feb 22 at 7:13 am

TeeMom Mar 14 at 11:17 am

Do you have any Post Tubal symptoms? I’m considering this method but have researched and have discovered that lots of women are having numerous problems after this surgery. My doctor’s method fro me is to cut the tubes and suture them. What method did use?

Cara Feb 21 at 8:15 pm

I am surprised you don’t include in the copper IUD section that it allows ovulation and conception, just not implantation of the baby into the uterus wall. It works because the copper irritates the lining of the uterus, thinning it, making it incompatible with pregnancy, effectively inducing a miscarriage each time you might conceive. That is why women are told by their doctor they might experience “heavier than normal menses”.

Christin Jul 11 at 5:48 pm

Terry Feb 18 at 3:47 pm

When my wife stopped taking the Pill we used lambskin condoms through to menopause. We found them safe and satisfying. The only issue maybe is that they do not have a reservoir tip to collect the cum and you have to leave a space at the head. This is very manageable.

Mary Jan 23 at 1:44 am

Erin Nov 24 at 10:17 am

We use symptoms-based method and it works like a charm! When we decided we wanted to try to conceive I was pregnant right away! (And we are both 37). No artificial chemicals for my body to get rid of. Also it’s so great to have have sex as naturally as the good Lord intended it to be…most days of the month. But you do have to know your body and be diligent in recording to make this method work.

Amanda Ghandhari Nov 22 at 5:24 pm

I know so many who believe you should let what happens, happen….. But there are more reasons to try and prevent pregnancy than just “I don’t want a baby” If one has had to have a cesarean delivery, like myself, then it is dangerous for mother and baby to get pregnant too soon. Then I tried just condoms and got pregnant unexpectedly, but it was okay. It did cause my 2nd surgery…..so now I really need to be careful and not get pregnant for awhile. 🙂

Molly Apr 24 at 1:50 pm

Hi Amanda! I am in a similar position, avoiding pregnancy due to health reasons. If you are interested in a natural form a “birth control” you should check out the Marquette Method of NFP. There’s a Facebook page that’s really helpful. This method uses the clear blue fertility monitor to measure your hormones and it tells you when you have low, high, and peak fertility so it’s very black and white. I would definitely recommend it!

Sarah Yurasko Oct 26 at 6:30 am

Hi Genevieve,

I really enjoy your website and your weekly pregnancy updates! A very effective version of NFP for your consideration is the Marquette Model: http://nfp.marquette.edu. It uses the Clear Blue Easy monitor and looks at hormonal levels in urine. While more expensive than the other methods (cost of monitor and 10-20 sticks per month), everyone I know who has used it (including me) finds it so much easier! And completely natural 🙂

Hannah Oct 11 at 8:31 pm

Jenny Oct 6 at 9:49 am

I’m 50 years old and I had the 10-year Paraguard (copper IUD with no hormones) put in ten years ago. This will be my last year (doc says it has to come out)… unfortunately I have not gone through “the pause” yet, so not sure what I’ll do next, but this is great information here! Thanks to everyone who responded. I have never had any problems with it (no pregnancies – tubal or otherwise), no depression, weight gain, zinc defficiencies or any of the other side effects listed in this article. In fact I weigh less now than I did ten years ago. The only side effect I had was my very first period after I had it put in was extremely heavy. After that first one everything was normal. I really didn’t like the idea of using any artifcial hormones, and I was definitely NOT into the family planning method. Most people are biologically more horney (is there a nicer, more technical word for that? Sorry – sounds terrible!) during the time when they are ovulating! I happen to enjoy intercourse more during that time, so abstinence was not going to work at all for us. I have been happy with the Paraguard and would recommend it to others. It’s the most common birth control used in many European countries, and they have been using it for many years longer than we have in the US, so the studies of it’s safety, etc, over there are well documented. Good luck to everyone! This is a great forum.

Geneviève Aug 29 at 7:57 am

We use NFP because we believe God created us women with natural infertile periods for a reason! But we don’t agree with anything other than that because fertility is such a beautiful part of my body and his and we don’t want to tamper with it. When we married eachother, we promised a total gift of self, which is what we are striving to right now 🙂 As for the article, you mention that NFP methods “are recommended for women who have pretty consistent cycles and are generally healthy”. It can be true for some, but not the one we use. We use the Creighton model and it has been doing wonders for us! I have irregular cycles due to PCOS and other problems, but I have been taught to understand my body’s normal mucus progression and I can pinpoint my ovulation pretty easily now. What’s even better about this is that my doctor is trained with this method and he was able to date my pregnancy more effectively by using my real ovulation range instead of starting from the beginning of my menstrual cycle like most doctors do.

Finally I just want to say that even though I do not agree with everything you write about, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you write from a more natural and religious point of view. It is SUCH a nice change from everything that is out there. Thank you 🙂

Elaina Aug 21 at 9:48 am

When I was young and dumb, very young (23) and very dumb, I submitted to the opinions of my late husband, without listening to my inner voice, & had my tube tied after the birth of my second child. I had no idea the mourning that would take place & add to it the early hormonal changes it induced. My perimenopausal symptoms that started at 34 (!) can be traced to messing around inside at such a young age. I will probably lose my cycle at 45 (just a couple years away now) & that puts me at risk for so many reproductive cancers it’s crazy. In hindsight, I should have listened to myself. Life can change on a dime! I lost my husband but remarried a wonderful man that I wanted to have children with but my early decision squashed that. All things to think about.

Shelby Jan 21 at 5:19 am

Daisy Aug 16 at 3:09 pm

The birth control pill has been wonderful for me! I used to live with chronic awful pain and insanely large cysts that had me doubled over in my bed all month. I had taken birth control in college, but didn’t love it because I was more weepy. When my doctor said my best options were surgery or oral contraceptives I was worried. However, my awesome OBGYN put me on this very low dose of hormones pill. And guess what? It has been perfect! ! My pain has completely gone away and my moods are not affected! My skins is glowing! I could not have made a better decision!

Vanessa Aug 11 at 10:06 am

I have a personal query. I have one child and my husband and I don’t wish to have another. I’ve used condoms, but I get infections using them, same with diaphragms and female condoms – get infections from them all. I never liked synthetics. I had taken the shot, but after finding out that I could suffer from brittle bones, I’ve pulled away from its use. I’m currently on the pill, but I’ve gained so much weight, not to mention the mood wings. All in all, I’m miserable, and my libido is shot. I’m seriously considering a natural form of birth control an I’m willing to try, but I hardly know where to begin. Plus, I don’t want to use abortifiants even natural ones. Goes against everything I believe in – and I can’t use IUDs, because I’ve had a c-section. Could anyone advise me on the best course of action?

Christin, WHNP Jul 11 at 5:50 pm

Liz Sep 24 at 10:19 am

I would recommend looking into the Creighton Sympto-Thermal Method and Naprotechnology, or the Marquette Method. There are no unnatural side effects to either method. Creighton allows you to work with a trained physician who can help you through the symptoms of withdrawing from other hormonal methods; Marquette instructors are required to be healthcare professionals as well, so they know a lot about hormones and cycles. Search for Napro providers or Marquette instructors in your area! Good luck!

Ashley Aug 9 at 9:23 pm

Honestly I am quite sad that this was a topic that has been posted here, on Mama Natural. The Rhythm method pretty much can be summed up as “The Unhappy Compromise”. All other forms of birth control are just SO UN-NATURAL for our bodies and I believe that that they even cause some psychological and physical imbalance. God knows first and foremost what we can and cannot handle and will not give us too much on our plate. If it seems as though we do, then we go to Him for help (and others-that is why we have our spouses as our team mate).

Think of this situation; our nursing homes are OVERFLOWING with residents (I used to work at one at the beginning of my nursing career). If you deprive your family with other children, who is to say that the last one that you deprived of being born into your family would not be the one to keep you yourself (myself) out of a nursing home. I have known and heard of many people who had several children.. (eg: 5, 7, even 10!) and their youngest child was the only one who took it upon themselves to keep their parents out of the nursing homes – THE child that you so selfishly denied existence that God had planned since BEFORE you came into the world yourself) Just some food for thought..

Kirsty Sep 15 at 5:26 pm

I actually find this quite offensive. I think this is a fantastic page which allows readers to see all of the options which are available. I noticed that it very much highlights how the none natural methods are not approved so much as the nfp group of methods. As a 28 year old mum of 3, I am looking into this area after finding prescribed birth control doesn’t seem to be suiting my body anymore. This page allows me to easily see the differences and compare the pros and cons of all of them, as well as decide what I would like to look into further. I am not in any way religious and although I believe everything happens for a reason, did you even stop to think that maybe God wouldn’t have allowed humans to develop birth control if he wasn’t happy to give us the option of making our own choices.

Elizabeth Sep 20 at 6:21 pm

Ashley, I agree with you one hundred percent that our world has left God out and has driven away from His will. However, I think God gave us wisdom to plan. I believe God has allowed us the option of choosing if we want more children or if we are satisfied with how many He has blessed us. Using a safe and natural method such as the pull away method or lamb skin condoms should all be taken into consideration.

Jenna Sep 24 at 4:17 pm

Then go use those and stop trying to shove your “God” down our throats. Instead of thumping a Bible I’m planning to raise every child I have to be the one that will want to take care of me. Totally insensitive and selfish of you to assume we all care what your religious beliefs are.

kat Oct 6 at 11:44 pm

Amen Jenny. Not all of us follow your god. And generally I don’t share mine religious beliefs but, as a pagan, I greatly value my fertility, however. My family is very fertile we absolutely cannot afford another child emotionally or monetary while we have the ones we have. So regardless of what God you believe, I thank them for giving us so many options to postpone or prevent a potentially harmful situation. Control your own body or be a pauper with 8+ kids feeding off the system like people did for so many years. You choose.

Jacqlene Oct 14 at 12:00 pm

You sound really ignorant and hateful. God gave us freewill for a reason. there are SO many valid reasons to try and prevent another pregnancy for your family. While I wholeheartedly believe that GOD is in control and has a plan bigger than anything we could plan for ourselves, there is NOTHING wrong with being a responsible adult and taking whatever measures you feel fit your particular situation the best to have only the number of children you can adequately love and take care of the way they deserve. Taking no precaution and “letting GOD be in control” is irresponsible if you are not prepared and able to provide for another child. I know several people who have gotten pregnant past many different types of birth control. If its to be than it will happen but shaming anyone who is making the best decision for their family is wrong. What is SELFISH is to purposely try and bring a child into the world you are not willing able and ready to take care of financially, emotionally, etc.

Laura Dec 17 at 1:35 pm

Bravo! Well said! May God’s Will Be Done! God said: “Be fruitful and multiply.” This is a command not a planning suggestion! Women will have God’s peace, even in life’s difficulties when they honestly embrace His Truth! Pray for it. He won’t disappoint you!

Shelby Jan 21 at 5:25 am

Debbie Aug 20 at 2:15 am

I’m surprised no one has noticed the contradiction here. As a sister, who believes and trusts in God, you mention that God will not give you anything you can’t handle, but follow that with the line of thinking saying you need to have X number of kids so that you have someone to look after yourself when you age? Or am I misunderstanding? Surely God has that covered too?

Children are an incredible gift, and our 3rd was a welcome surprise (incorrect NFP on my part!) but often I’ve questioned myself as to if I have enough of myself to ‘give’ each of my children… which is a hard question to answer at times. It’s so personal – like so much of this discussion is.

Thank you Mama Natural. LOVE following you! Thank you for honest, holistic answers to very real, pertinent questions. X

Jessa Aug 4 at 5:14 pm

My husband is a Paramedic and will complete his RN degree in 6 months. He has read many scientific research papers about how a vasectomy considerably raises a man’s chances of prostate cancer one paper said by 110% and others say less. So I did my own research about a woman getting her tubes tied and there is plenty of documentation on how it raises our chances of many cancers in our entire reproductive system (uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, etc). I would suggest that everyone do their own research about the side effects, because even the IUD’s have serious side effects. Most we have not found to be worth the chance. So, we are sticking with natural family planning using withdrawal, and calendar. There are many great apps that will help those women that have regular cycles, and for those that don’t I believe you can achieve a normal cycle. Read Woman Code by Alissa Vitti.

yvette Aug 4 at 4:16 pm

I had a Paraguard IUD inserted after my 3rd baby and got pregnant with it. 99.4% and I got pregnant! Had it removed and had a beautiful baby boy. Now we use the calendar – there is a website where you enter your date of your period each month and then based on your cycle the system figures out the fertile days and when you will get your period. I get an email, my husband gets an email and we both know when the fertile days are..

Serena Aug 4 at 3:57 pm

Amanda Dirks Aug 10 at 6:58 am

I used birth control pill the first few years of marriage. I kept getting more disgusted with it so bought a baby comp. I loved loved it!!!! It’s a step up from lady comp but can be bought on eBay for less than from the real sight. It worked awesome!!!!….. Till we had our first planned baby 3 months later! I could put it away for pregnancy but when I got it out after baby, I realized breastfeeding throws it all off. Plus getting up at night as often as my babies made me caused there to be very inefficient… 🙁 I finally sold it. But if u always getting a full night’s sleep I highly recommend it, it charts so close u have 5-7 days where u fertile

Erin Aug 29 at 1:42 pm

Hi Serena,

I use the Lady-Comp and have been doing so for the past 20 months. I started when I got my first cycle back after our second child was born. I am still breastfeeding (only a tiny bit), but have been using it since my daughter was 8 months old. I was breast feeding A LOT back when I first started using it and had no problems at all. As my cycles adjusted post partum, so did the Lady-Comp. Also, the directions only indicate that you need 3 hours of sleep for it to be effective. We really really love it. I find easier than charting ALL my fertility signs every day. The Lady-Comp simple uses your temperature. It’s super easy and straight forward. We love it and will use it indefinitely. The’s customer support is outstanding, and they have an analyzer on their website where you can connect a USB cord to the Lady-Comp and it will pull up all of the charts stored in the Lady-Comp so that you can get an overview of what’s going on with your cycles. They have a relatively new device called the Daysy that hooks up with a smart phone and is based entirely on the same data and technology. It’s just considerably cheaper than the Lady-Comp. Best of luck with your birth control, whatever you choose!

Grace Aug 4 at 2:58 pm

Diana Aug 4 at 2:53 pm

Thanks for this list! You forgot to mention the cervical cap, such as the fem cap! It worked for me and my hubby for a while, but now we are expecting our first next month. hehe. I think I remember reading it had a 96% effective rate. 🙂

Michelle Jul 31 at 7:45 pm

I have heard that there are some herbals methods for controlling conception. I’d be interested in seeing this covered. I had always wanted to be the nfp, no contraception, large family person – but hyperemesis has other plans for me and I think my husband and I will need to make some very serious decisions after this pregnancy. But as I am very against permanent birth controls or anything hormonal and I completely hate condoms, the options are pretty limited! We’re as fertile as rabbits to boot. I think I’ve also heard of people using sea sponges as barriers (probably with a spermicide?).

Elie Jul 16 at 1:42 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Such an amazing article! Can you share your opinion on the devices used to measure and predict the cycle. I’m looking into daysy and clyearblue(can’t find the link right now), but I’m torn.Any help would be appreciated!

Micky Apr 7 at 9:40 pm

If you are using natural family planning please keep in mind that the eclipse can actually alter your cycle! A friend of mine who was very careful with her tracking has just fallen pregnant for this reason.

Oakley Mar 31 at 1:30 pm

I’m so sad I missed the initial polling for this.

I think Natural Family Planning is an amazing method. When I was younger I tried different contraceptive including pills as well as the Mirena. These things had TERRIBLE side effects and I became really uniquely aware of them quite early on.

I eventually started Natural Family Planning using the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. It covers how to become pregnant as well as it covers how not to. I’ve been practicing NFP with basal temp, cervical mucus and calendar dates now for going on 3 years. I have been 100% effective in preventing pregnancy and just now became pregnant the first month we chose to become pregnant. So I believe it is very effective and it’s very near and dear to my heart.

We generally choose not to abstain during “danger” times and use condoms on those days.

Meagan Webb Aug 9 at 4:02 pm

This is us exactly! We read the same book and used that method for years and are expecting our first (planned!) baby this month. I am thinking about trying one of the fertility monitors in the future though.

Heather Oct 6 at 12:18 pm

That is a great method because you get the benefit of knowing your body plus being able to come together even if its an unhealthy time to conceive. We have done this in the past. Now I use the breastfeeding method and welcome children as God chooses. We have six kids in 14 years of marriage!

Anij Mar 21 at 4:33 pm

TCOF is the book for me. I use that one, too. It covers everything about your cycles, start to finish. I never knew half of the stuff in the books most of my life. She has a version for teens that I wish I’d had decades ago when I was that age. I bought the teen books for my nieces and their moms and it’s made a huge difference in their lives.

Angie Mar 26 at 10:33 pm

Thank you for the information. I am a little over two months postpartum and heavily researched birth control in the weeks following his birth. I ended up on the pill, but it is a hormone free version. What are your thoughts on the hormone (estrogen) free form of the pill?

Mo Mo Feb 21 at 2:13 am

Kari Horner Apr 1 at 8:55 am

Hi Mo Mo! Where do you get queen anne’s lace, and what doseage do you use? I’ve been reading up a little on that method, and see that some people use it during their fertile times? Please let me know more if you have any information!

Tamar May 16 at 7:34 pm

megan Jan 19 at 4:51 pm

You forgot to mention the Marquette Method from Marquette University. You linked LH strips (which are not part of the official method), but not the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor. Marquette Method is awesome because you use the monitor and do not have to use mucus observations, cervix placement, or get a lot sleep at one time. There is postpartum protocol for those that are breastfeeding and not. Then there are protocols for once menses returns, regular cycles, and looks like they are working on menopause protocol. There is an awesome FB group too with a wealth of info.

Laura Mckenzie Aug 4 at 8:34 pm

Yes!! Marquette is amazing, as are Creighton, Billings and the other NFP researched methods. We just switched to Marquette recently for the objectivity of the monitor readings. Please please include the link to their method in your article. The FB group is fabulous too. Second, what the commentator said above and I would LOVE to see you write more in depth about the beauty of NFP. There is nothing more natural than learning and following your body’s cues, while discerning and praying about how God wants to shape your family. We are a happy family of six, not “planning” for more, but always open to Gods perfect design and will for us. NFP has changed and challenged our whole mindset about fertility, our openness to life vs, our perfect number, and the big picture of life 🙂

Ruth Jan 10 at 9:56 pm

Stephanie Jan 3 at 10:50 am

Early on In our marriage I was on birth control. Which made my body so imbalanced emotionally that I felt I had to find something different. Which led me to the FAM method. I do feel that being on the pill created adverse reactions not just to my emotions but to our journey to getting pregnant. I now had irregular cycles and my progesterone levels were not right. After a year and a half of trying for a baby, surgery for cysts and getting my body back on track we were blessed with our first child. Fast forward to now… My husband and I have been using natural family planning for 11 years. We play strictly by the rules and have 3 beautiful children and one on the way Due this February. Our babies are all spaced 2 1/2 years apart. We have never had a scare that we were pregnant when we were not desiring it. After we are done nursing each child I spend some time re-evaluating my cycle. We used the lactation amnorea method Inbetween children. However we have been considering a permanent birth control and we had been considering a vasectomy. However we have been reading up and have read that it may increase the risk of prostate cancer as well as a chance in pain. We are still trying to make the best decision for us . Thanks for this great informative article. I think it will be a great help. I am a huge advocate for FAM and we use an app called Kindara that is easy to use to keep track of your cycles. Thanks again! 😊

Rhiannon Dec 10 at 8:36 am

Amanda Templeman Dec 8 at 1:51 pm

We wanted a more permanent solution to not having another baby. So after having our second child my husband had a vasectomy. Now he is experiencing post-vasectomy pain syndrome almost 6 months after the procedure. It isn’t horrible pain, just uncomfortable for him when he gets aroused or ejaculates. This is something that happens quite frequently but is never talked about! It needs to be more known. If we would’ve known this could happen we wouldn’t have taken the risk. Now our solution is to spend a lot of money and have it reversed. It is very unfortunate that there isn’t a permanent solution to birth control, and one that doesn’t ruin the female body nor the males 🙁

Camille J. Feb 10 at 12:20 pm

“One that doesn’t ruin the female body nor the males?” MAYBE it’s because we are supposed to “be fruitful and mulitply!!” LEARN the beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church and see why God said that. Yes Christian married couples, who are married legitimately, should have 10-15… children each, according to God’s making. His making… our bodies do not need to be ruined or slowed down or disrupted but respected and we, obedient. Learn the Catholic Churches teaching for sexuality and marriage.

The pity here is the ignorance that is making such a huge conversation. Truth, not deep down feelings is what is going to give us happiness, joy, peace, aka favor with God. CONTRACEPTION = DEATH. CONTRACEPTION MENTALITY = WORLD VIEW OF DEATH. God loves all come into His fold The Traditional Catholic Church!! Love you!

Dawn Ziegler May 23 at 6:05 pm

Carol Aug 2 at 2:52 am

Genevieve: Please feel free to erase this message if you think is not appropriate or out of context. I just want to give you my perspective as a another believer in God like you. To me, Human Life is God’s Grand Project and I always think He has already think about the lives of my children long before they are conceive in my womb. I am under the impression that you are a person who loves God and who strives to be a great mom. From Christian mom to Christian mom: don’t be afraid of what God wants for you, don’t be afraid of having more kids, kids need Love and not material things (if money is what concerns you). Being afraid is not a reason to avoid children, being afraid is a reason to be courageous, and God wants you to be a brave soul. A new baby is not a danger to guard from, above all a new baby is new Soul, a new Life that glorifies Him, your husband, your mom, your dad, your sister or brother, neither would exist if their moms would have been afraid.

Laura Mckenzie Aug 4 at 8:42 pm

Yes, there is so much beauty to the design for life and God to ultimately be in charge of creating life. Amen and so happy to hear of so many rethinking the norm of control, especially in the form of artificial birth control. The Catholic Church is beyond old-fashioned…its views on family planning are beyond wise.

Amanda Aug 6 at 12:24 am

JMJ I agree, Camille. It’s ironic that on a “natural” website we are talking about something so completely unnatural — contra-ception! I love so much of what you do, Genevieve, and I have learned so much from you over the years. And you have brought much laughter and joy into our home! I can’t thank you enough for all of that! However, you have missed the mark on this one!!! Contraception, in any form, is a grave disorder of the marital act. It is against the natural law. I don’t care what religion you are! This is something that deep down inside of each of us KNOW is wrong. Contraception defies the natural law written on our hearts…just like we know not to steal, kill, or cheat someone (no one needs to tell you these things are wrong, we know this at a young age!!!) And we should not have to be told contraception is wrong either. However, in this crazy world it seems that we need to SHOUT it because it has become so much the norm. As wives and mothers, our happiness and fulfillment lies in LIFE! In cooperating in the creation of life and then nurturing and caring for little souls that populate the earth, and one day God-willing will populate heaven. This is the greatest thing a woman can do….this is her mark on all eternity and her path to saving her soul (The woman shall be saved by bearing children. 1 Tim 2:15) And to deny a woman this or limit her in this capacity is something fundamentally wrong.

The Traditional Catholic teaching on the marital act for almost 2000 years has been: 1) The primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children. 2) It’s secondary end is mutual help and the allaying of concupiscence. (1917 Canon Law 1013)

Please ladies, don’t thwart God’s plan for you and your family! He made us and he knows what is best for us!!

Ashley Aug 9 at 9:22 pm

I could not agree with you more! What wonderful information you have posted here, thank you for the insight! And you are absolutely right in regard to the natural law that is written on our hearts.

Honestly I am quite sad that this was a topic that has been posted here, on Mama Natural. The Rhythm method pretty much can be summed up as “The Unhappy Compromise”. All other forms of birth control are just SO UN-NATURAL for our bodies and I believe that that they even cause some psychological and physical imbalance. God knows first and foremost what we can and cannot handle and will not give us too much on our plate. If it seems as though we do, then we go to Him for help (and others-that is why we have our spouses as our team mate).

Think of this situation; our nursing homes are OVERFLOWING with residents (I used to work at one at the beginning of my nursing career). If you deprive your family with other children, who is to say that the last one that you deprived of being born into your family would not be the one to keep you yourself (myself) out of a nursing home. I have known and heard of many people who had several children.. (eg: 5, 7, even 10!) and their youngest child was the only one who took it upon themselves to keep their parents out of the nursing homes – THE child that you so selfishly denied existence that God had planned since BEFORE you came into the world yourself) Just some food for thought..

Jenna Sep 24 at 6:31 pm

Cait Nov 24 at 9:36 am

Thanks for writing this. Birth control is a touchy subject as anyone can see by reading some of these comments. I’ve personally never known hormonal birth control to save a woman’s life -not saying I believe it’s never happened just don’t think it’s as common as some people make out- HOWEVER I have known several YOUNG otherwise HEALTHY women who have struggled with hormonal imbalances and getting or staying pregnant after use of hormonal birth control including myself now. I wish I had known what I know now years ago. I don’t think I would have chosen hormonal birth control and I doubt I will ever take it again. I got pregnant with my daughter very easily and quickly. Now we have been trying for 6 months with no success, I have terribly irregular, sometimes heavy and sometimes long -my last cycle lasted 20 days- periods. After my next cycle -who knows when it will be- I have to go back to my doctor for tests to make sure I’m ovulating. My doctor thinks I may not be. Before birth control I had VERY regular periods. Never missed one they never came early. Now my hormones are all messed up. I’m only 27. I can’t help but believe hormonal birth control has had something to do with this especially because I know so many other YOUNG women my age who are going through the exact same thing. This is information that needs to be put out there. Thanks!

Michell Aug 1 at 2:50 am

That’s the thing about the pill or IUD’s– they are synthetic and interrupts the natural hormonal balance of our brains and body. Women are the only ones that take any medication to prevent pregnancy– with all the side effects: rash, depression, cancers & heart disease– how is that living liberating life. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t want 4 or more children BUT it’s sad that we as women are the brunt of this issue and that we would rather face illness or death instead if having a precious baby. The Bible does say “be fruitful and multiply” and that we should not accept the lies of this world and be transformed by it.

Laura Mckenzie Aug 4 at 8:52 pm

Amen to this,…the information about adverse side effects DOES Need to be spread to each and every woman, teenager and before she is harmed by BC. There’s a reason our fertility was created to create, not to be blocked. I cant help but think of Newtons law in regards to birth control. For every artificial birth control is a negative and adverse effect on our health. It’s time to embrace Gods perfect design for our families.

Erin Nov 21 at 9:35 pm

I noticed several comments that seemed upset that some of the birth control options were not painted in a more positive light. I think that since the title of this is “natural birth control,” on a blog called “mama natural,” it only makes sense that the most natural options are going to be portrayed as the most, well, natural. I don’t think anyone is trying to offend by saying that an IUD is less natural than NFP-type fertility methods… they are merely stating the truth. If you want to use a less natural form of birth control, then of course that is your personal decision and you have your own reasons for that. To get right down to the heart of it, the only truly natural form is fertility awareness. All others have unnatural elements (ie vasectomy: it is unnatural to have surgery to alter a normally-functioning part of the body). It is up to each couple to talk through what they want to do, and it is not a contest about who can be “more natural,” but hearing the truth about the pill and people’s side effects from the IUD is important. Only when we know all the info can we make truly informed decisions, and some people will decide that a less natural thing is what they want to do… it is when you feel defensive over something that maybe that means you should take a closer look at it. I fully believe in only using nfp methods because the most natural method of family planning is important to me. However, I don’t – for example – use elimination communication with my children, even though I know it is far more natural than diapers… and I feel no guilt over that, nor would I be offended when somebody else started that it is more natural than using disposable diapers – because that is just a true statement. We all make our own natural-living choices and should be comfortable with them. If we are not comfortable with them, then we have the freedom to change them. 🙂

Lucy Mills Nov 21 at 5:28 pm

We do NFP with the help of breastfeeding/pumping we’ve spaced children out about 3 years apart. However, we are done after #4 and we were considering vasectomy. This post was helpful in gaining information about other’s experience with it. Thank you for including it.

Robyn Nov 21 at 2:28 pm

Kevin Nov 21 at 6:20 pm

Brandi Oct 19 at 4:28 pm

we are a very naturally minded family and we opted for a vasectomy. My husband was in very little pain for maybe 1 day and he described it as an ache more than a pain. That was last November and he hasn’t felt anything since. He also went back twice to give 2 samples (3 and 6 months) and both were 100% negative for sperm. We feel comfortable with our decision and I researched doctors for him, that is a huge factor. The TYPE of vas the doctor performs can determine if there’s pain during or after and if there’s complications. My husband had zero and it will be one year next month.

Jess Mar 24 at 6:17 pm

Adriane Oct 19 at 12:27 am

Melissa Sep 14 at 11:09 am

Thank you so much for this post. Great information. I would like to say that birth control made me horribly sick after one pill. I can not take any of them. First off I found that all yes all birth controls have dairy as a binder. I am very allergic to dairy. Second I had no idea this would mess with my body the way it did. I became very sick after giving birth to my son. My body just began to shut down. It has been 5 years and it is still trying to shut down. I have to many disorders to name. But any way we thought my hormones were off so we tried birth control out of desperation for some relief to my nausea and vomiting daily. It was awful. Come to find out through research of my own. I am Estrogen dominant. Birth control is full of Estrogen. What I really needed was progesterone and to dump all the excess estrogen in my body. Excess estrogen caused me uterine fibroid’s, Fibro cystic breasts and cysts on my ovaries. I still have lumps in my breast today. Ladies be aware when taking birth control loaded with excess estrogen. Excess estrogen can also be cancer causing. As for implanted birth control my friend did this. It was implanted some where inside the vagina I do not know what kind it was. After a while it came loose and tore up her insides and created a massive infection. So bad they had to do a hysterectomy on her in her twenties. Most would think this is not a bad thing. No more periods and no more babies. Wrong she started going into menopause in her twenties. This is not good. Our bodies have stages of life for a reason. A very good natural doctor had to stop this from happening. She ended up with pre breast cancer cells and massive hormone shifts making life unbearable. Was the pre cancer thing just a coincidence we do not now but it is something to think about. We are not meant to go into menopause in our twenties our body is not ready. God bless

Kellie Sep 1 at 1:12 pm

We use the Marquette Method of NFP and it is amazing. It’s the NFP for lazy people. It utilizes the clear blue fertility monitor in conjunction with a set protocol. I literally pee on a stick 5 or 6 days a cycle and that’s it. In peer reviewed studies for efficacy it is rated 98% effective with perfect use (which is not difficult) We have successfully avoided pregnancy for 2 years and are now ready for another baby!http://nfp.marquette.edu/

Michel Sep 16 at 8:21 am

cassie Jan 14 at 12:36 pm

thanks for the info and link, I am definitely going to check this out and show it to my husband. This is our first time to family plan, we had 4 kids in 5 years, we still want to have more kids, but we really need a break. Baby is 3 months, and I have been trying to figure out how to do this NFP thing for when the time comes to start doing it. This might be the thing to help us out, thanks!

Laura Mckenzie Aug 4 at 8:55 pm

Katie Aug 30 at 7:41 pm

I was recently talking with a friend about vasectomies & she had read some information stating that there is a correlation between vasectomies and increased risk of auto-immune diseases! The info was that the sperm being absorbed back into the body, long-term, led to an immune reaction and eventually to various auto-immune diseases. I am planning to look more into the validity of that! For now, LAM method has worked for us since my cycles haven’t returned for over 2 years after birth and we are still planning to expand our family.

Christin, WHNP Jul 11 at 6:02 pm

In my five years of practicing, none of my patients have complained about any side effects from the copper IUD except for heavy periods. You could get your hormone levels tested, and you can always remove it to see if it helps, but usually that is not a side effect

Rebecca Aug 26 at 6:47 am

We do FAM and have a ladycomp. I wouldn’t touch hormonal contraceptives either, not worth the health risks (as someone who has chronic fatigue due to a number of hormone issues).

A friend of mine was born (40 years ago) holding his mothers copper iud in his hand. Clearly he was not going to be defeated by that one!

We have another a friend who had a vasectomy many many years ago who’s new wife became pregnant. He was obviously quite concerned but turns out the tubes regrew together. Loves his new little family but was a big shock.

lindsay Aug 25 at 4:09 am

Hello Genevieve! Thank you for posting on this topic. My little one is going to be six months soon and we will not be able to rely on breastfeeding as a method of birth control much longer. I know children are a blessing from God so my husband and I do not worry about trying to control that aspect of our life, but there have been times being pregnant would not have been good for my health so we used NFP. It does require some work, but It can be a great solution. Thanks again for posting. I know its a touchy subject and some people will have harsh words to say. Love from Wasilla Alaska!

Mary Aug 24 at 11:51 pm

Thank you for posting this! I have never had sex (not married) but I was on the pill for 3 months ten years ago to “help clear up my skin”. Not only did it not work, it also completely changed my personality, I wasnt hungry anymore, and I realized if I ever did get preg while on the pill, my baby would start off in a hostile environment. It took 8 years for my periods to return to normal (3.5 days Instead of 7+ days). After speaking to my birthmom, she confirmed that hormonal bc does not work well with her body’s chemistry either.

I know people who have gotten preg on the pill, the shot, an iud, nfp and a vasectomy. I am thankful to have natural options so that when I am ready to get married and have sex/plan babies, I know I’ll be treating my body with respect in the process.

Thank you for all the time and research you put into this. Much love and many blessings from Dallas Texas ♥

Jessica Aug 24 at 11:09 pm

Genevieve, As a nurse midwife (and “natural mama”, whatever that means) I recognize that there are many different options for different women. I am not a fan of your editorialized comments “I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole”, and that “hormones mess with your body”. For many women, a future pregnancy could be harmful to them due to certain health conditions, as well as for women for whom another pregnancy would not be “a gift from God”, but an added financial and emotional burden, or just plain not desired. I agree that natural family planning works well for some families, but I have sat across from many a 40 year old, weeping when finding out she is expecting…twins. Pregnancy (while normally a normal process) actually poses much greater risk to the average woman’s health than any birth control pill because estrogen and progesterone levels are MUCH higher during pregnancy than when any woman is on BC. I am a long-time fan of yours, and a breast feeding, natural birthing, cloth diapering mother myself, but as a midwife who cares for women daily, I think it is important to provide women with UNBIASED scientific evidence so that each woman can make her own decision.

Lee Sep 3 at 4:56 am

Tiffany Sep 18 at 2:32 am

Thank you for sharing your experience. As a mom of two, whose baby is 7 mo old, I feel very confident in my choice of copper IUD. It’s good to remember how much our bodies go through during pregnancy. I loved being pregnant, and wonder if two is it for us.

Andrea Oct 19 at 12:11 am

Rebecca,

I appreciated your comment. I agree. The tone and bias with some of the methods listed are unnecessary. Furthermore, such comments can detract loyal readers who have found the methods she disagrees with successful for them and their families. Genevieve, I used the IUD and your comments about it felt judgemental. Despite this being your blog–and yes you have the right to your opinion–I doubt you want to make readers feel inferior, stupid, or like a horrible “natural mama” because of this issue. At least, I hope you don’t. 🙁

Rebecca Aug 23 at 11:23 am

Wow, this post is so timely as I just had my son and am 6 weeks postpartum.

Before I got pregnant, my husband and I were using the calendar method and using the pull out method during my fertile time. It worked for us for a year and the reason I did get pregnant while using these methods was actually user error..haha But our son is truly a blessing. We don’t believe in accidents, we believe in God’s timing, so even though it wasn’t our timing, we went with the flow and are loving being parents 🙂

Now we’re trying to decide whether we want to use those methods again or not. Thanks for the post and all the great information!

Robin Aug 23 at 12:45 am

My husband and I agreed to 2, and afterwards he got a vasectomy. He went to the top doc in the Sacramento area (who shared with hubby that he did his ow n!!) He also is on the conservative side and had him take 8 days off as he is on his feet for work. A lot depends on the skill of the dr as far as adverse side affects… there was a dr who hubby initially had a consult with and he was looped out on drugs and prescribed hubby vicodin and anti anxiety meds. Hubby cancelled the appt and went to Dr Golden who said he didn’t even need a Tylenol. Seriously. Best decision ever. Because we are so done and won’t risk getting pregnant again… and we are both quite fertile! Just some food for thought to consider… because hubby was told horror story after horror story and then decided to go to the top doc even though it was double the cost for us and to take his direction. He drove himself there and back and is referring his brothers to him!

susan Aug 22 at 5:45 pm

I am a disaster story in birth control i got pregnant with my first in senior year highschool religiously using orthotricyclen then i got pregnant again 18 months later using a supposed “better pill” orthonovum, i realized im super fertile like beyond crazy fertile so me and hubs used birth control pills and spermicide and condoms for 4 years successfully and we planned our 3 rd and decided since the pills were causing me debilitating migraines we wouldnt use them after the third well we used depo shots which is progestin it worked for a year before baby 4 happened unexpectedly so after number four i got a cooper iud it was ok other than weight gain and bad cramps but i got pregnant with another baby i had an abortion and decided on symptothermal and condoms meaning we always use condoms but completely avoid sex before or during fertile times artificial birth control gives me false security best to go natural

Laura Aug 22 at 3:41 pm

For NFP, I highly recommend the Lady Comp device. It’s a little spendy at around $400 but makes it so much easier. I used it for 4 years before getting pregnant and because it tells you when you’re ovulating you can even use it to get pregnant. (I did.) Love it!!!

Julie Sep 1 at 7:06 pm

I use the Lady Comp too, it is so easy! I have to say that I was not happy with it though for 22 mo postpartum while I was nursing because I was irregular, it would only give me about three green lights a month. However, when I weened my baby it was like 15 green lights a mo!!

Monica Aug 22 at 1:29 pm

We had an ARNP do one-on-one teaching with us to learn the billings ovulation method. I highly recommend it. In response to part 6a, it is not true that “some women ovulate before they have a period.” It is not true menstruation if ovulation did not occur first. Ovulation has to occur before menstruation, otherwise it is just bleeding from some other cause.

Nolin Feller Aug 21 at 11:43 pm

Hi Mama Natural! I have followed you, your family, and your videos for quite some time now. I really enjoy watching them, for various reasons. Thank you so much for “sailing through uncharted territory”. I have several girlfriends and I do NOT discuss my family’s birth control method(s) with them. This isn’t because I don’t think it’s any of their business, because I don’t want to share it, or because I am ashamed of it. Quite frankly, they’re not interested! LOL And if they are, well, let’s just say, it’s not normal topic of conversation amongst most women nowadays. I wonder why this is… anyhow, I think it’s great you have brought it up and shared your personal decision with the world. I’m curious- what do you mean by the fact that you are “very fertile”? My husband and I got pregnant with baby #1 on the first try, and baby #2 on the second try. Would you consider that “very fertile”? Since we started an intimate relationship, and even after our first child was born, we have always used (and been successful with) the “natural family planning method, calendar”. My cycles are irregular, and lengthy. But, so far, it has worked for us! Thanks again for sharing- I love your channel, and I’m so glad IRL is back 🙂 God bless… Virginia Beach, VA

Cami Aug 21 at 7:05 pm

Lindsey Aug 21 at 1:49 pm

Thanks for this great, informative article. I felt like the birth control pill really messed with my body and when I tried to go back on it (the ring, actually) after my first child, I seriously felt crazy. I took it out after a week and have used the Creighton method. Some family teased us about it, but three years later, they have had an unplanned pregnancy and we have not.

When I started looking into natural birth control, I was frustrated that there weren’t any easy options, but I think that is for a purpose. We should take the time to know our bodies, and natural family planning leaves the possibility open of having a baby if it’s God’s will.

Julie Aug 21 at 12:30 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We currently use a calendar based natural family planning aswell as tracking my cervical mucus.

After 2 years of the copper iud I developed pelvic inflammatory syndrome on top of the PCOS I already had. My provider tried talking me out if removing it anytime I brought it up so I removed it myself. After our second child I tried depo, six months and two shots later I had gained 80 lbs and felt sick all the time. We then switched to the pills which raised my blood pressure is we reevaluated our options and started NFP. We had no issues and baby #3 was conceived when we had planned. We have only been using LAM and NFP since April 2014 and it works great for us. I have learned to feel and notice the changes in my body and even in my mood throughout my cycles.

I am so happy to see that you listed most of the options available! I think women a pushed into thinking that they HAVE to use a hormonal birth control because they can’t possibly learn and read their own bodies, atleast I was made to feel that way. And thank you for talking about this to begin with!

Leila Aug 20 at 8:59 pm

Have you read the Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding by Sheila Kippley? Very helpful and informative book! Kind of like lactational amenhorrhea method but there is more to it and it really does prevent pregnancy – if you are indeed ecologically breastfeeding- for a lot longer. We have practiced attachment parenting and extended breastfeeding… my 3 yo is still nursing like the dickens. It really seems to work! I used to think I was pretty fertile, but I did not get pg with my son or my youngest daughter until the nursing child reached a certain level of weaned-ness, despite having periods. I’m talking years not months. Also wondering what do you do about the broodiness? The desire to have another child just arises by itself and seems to coincide with ovulation, even though the rest of the month I my sanity is intact (we have four children and do not want 5) I have also noticed that sexual desire itself is something that waxes and wanes with the menstrual cycle- and it is very prominent when I am most fertile! The problem I have with NFP is avoidance at the time when it feels best and the desire is strongest in the woman. Because the rest of the month, I have no problem with abstinence! Have you noticed this occurring for you or any other mamas out there?

Stephanie Aug 21 at 10:00 am

I could have written the last part of this comment. My husband and i were using just nfp up until three months ago and it nearly drove me crazy. I would basically lose my mind when it would matter most, and eventuality we decided it would be better to just use condoms and take at least the desire out of the equation, which made the broodiness easier to deal with. Good luck to you, mama.

A Aug 20 at 6:37 pm

This was a very informing post, thanks! I love that you discussed all different kinds of methods! <3 I would like to point out that everything is made of chemicals; that's why we have a periodic table of elements. It's the ones that are bad for you that you should avoid. 🙂

Mrs. Rivera Aug 20 at 3:18 pm

Thank you for posting.

I’ve been on the Copper IUD for 6 months and realized throughout the summer that I no longer had night vision. It was so odd. I have perfect eye-sight but lately when the lights would go off that eye adjustment that we all just count on would not happen! I went to get my baby out of the pack-n-play and had to feel along the wall like a blind person. I looked into it and night vision is directly controlled by zinc!

Scary… that + migraine episodes that never happened to me before. ever… Needless to say after reading your post I have a 3:15 appt tomorrow to have it removed. :-0

Cinemarie Aug 20 at 3:07 pm

Extremely well put together. We are currently using the same ‘method’ as you two, and reading this is making me feel even more strongly about our decision. I always felt like I should research this more thoroughly in case I missed some method that would suit us better, but the info out there is so confusing and not thorough. Now I feel like my research is done :)Thank you so much.

Sara Aug 20 at 2:16 pm

We use nfp and natural condoms. Our youngest is 4, so things have gone well thus far. I pay close attention to my body’s cues. I feel like this is the best way for us and if God has other plans we will accept his wisdom.

Jessica Pape Aug 20 at 2:16 pm

Jessica Pape Aug 20 at 2:18 pm

I also got copper toxity from my copper IUD, the doctor kept putting it off the “normal side effects”… IO ended up removing it myself. Never again will I ever trust medical birth control. We will be using condoms until one of us is ready for a medical surgery.

Liz Aug 20 at 1:36 pm

If you haven’t heard of the OvaCue Fertility Monitor, I would HIGHLY recommend it! I was using a combination of NFP techniques and due to my low basal body temperature, I was unable to track any noticeable changes. The OvaCue is great at preventing pregnancy and many use it to help them get pregnant. You can also use the website ovagraph.com to track more things (such as cervical mucus, temperature, etc) if needed.

Erica Aug 20 at 1:25 pm

We use a combination of the Lady Comp and condoms. Let me just make this clear… the Lady Comp knows what she is talking about! I got pregnant with my third child by ignoring the Lady Comp and thinking that I surely knew my body better than the computer did. I’m so glad we have our third child and couldn’t imagine life without him. I just wanted to “warn” people that the Lady Comp REALLY knows its stuff 🙂

Amanda Aug 19 at 8:19 pm

Well I think I’ve used just about all of these. My husband and I used lamb skin condoms for several months but they were pricey and he didn’t love them. I was on the pill for a year a couple of years ago and it was like my personality shut off. All I did was sit and stare and I’m usually a loud person joking around. It did make me gain weight and even now two years later my cycle is still off. We’ve been using a spermicide which he likes but it gives me yeast infections. I’m glad you posted this-I read most of it during my lunch break at work-because now I can grab a few books mentioned to start the natural family planning method along with the pull out method. I think this will work much better for us and we’ll both be much healthier. 😊

Abby Deliz Aug 19 at 6:47 pm

Genevieve, I really appreciate this post. My husband had a vasectomy when our son was 3.5 and our daughter was 1, about 5 years ago. Then, about 2.5 years after that, we decided we weren’t done, after all. We invested in a reversal procedure that was not only costly, but he had to be under anesthesia for almost four hours, and was in pain for weeks afterward. But it was worth it, because we got our third child about a year and a half later (and you know the rest, as I’ve written about in my articles!). Now, I haven’t wanted to go on the Pill so we’ve been using condoms, but I’ve gotten Bacterial Vaginosis twice since using them and am looking for a better alternative. Thanks for this. -Abby Deliz

diana Aug 19 at 4:20 pm

Rose Aug 19 at 10:44 am

YAY! Genevieve, thank you so much for putting this together! I’ve been looking forward to reading your research and opinions on this for awhile now; thanks for listening to the requests! This is so helpful. Good work!

Hope the adjustment to a new place is going well; I’m a month+ into it myself, and still don’t feel totally ‘at home’ in our new place yet. But things are looking up. 🙂

Jen Aug 19 at 6:31 am

Tara Aug 19 at 12:04 am

Thanks so much for this post! I had many a harsh side-effect from birth control (NuvaRing) and have spent many years recuperating my cycle ever since. I am quite fertile now and I think I’m done at two kids too, but not completely sure and I balk at vasectomies too. We’ve been using condoms ever since our first. I knew there must be natural condoms out there, but didn’t even know where to begin looking for them. Why I never thought to look on Amazon is beyond me. Put some of these in my cart already! 🙂 You always do come through for us MamaNatural!

Christine Aug 18 at 10:37 pm

Michelle Aug 18 at 10:35 pm

Are there other condoms you would recommend? Why did you decide on this brand in particular? I’ve never heard of it before. I’ve seen another brand at Natural Grocers, but can’t remember the name off hand.

Patty Aug 18 at 9:24 pm

Thanks for sharing this information as well as mentioning what you are using (I know that I asked you before!). I like how you tell it like it is with regards to how the synthetic and chemical forms of birth control are not natural and can cause cancer and other health problems. People need to know this! As for me and my husband, we use abstinence sometimes (if we really need to make sure 100% that we won’t get pregnant, like we did after our miscarriages), but otherwise we use NFP with abstinence around ovulation – Catholic style. I’ve done the Sympto-Thermal Method before with the basal thermometer, etc. but that is not happening anymore with my lack of sleep (haha), so I now use the Creighton Model FertiltyCare System along with NaProTechnology (seeing a doctor to help with our infertility and miscarriages). In fact, I am studying to become an instructor of Creighton NFP, which I am very excited about! Exclusive breastfeeding did not work as a form of birth control for me! I got my cycles back pretty quickly postpartum (probably around 3 months after) and that was even with breastfeeding every 2-3 hours around the clock! We are currently trying to avoid pregnancy (another 9 months to go!) until my baby is 18 months old. In a lot of ways, I can’t wait to not be on any kind of birth control. I would love to not worry about that and of course to not have any abstinence anymore! 🙂

Eva Kolibal Aug 18 at 7:06 pm

Aaah, thanks so much for this post!!! It’s super helpful. My daughter is 4 months old now and we’re thinking about what to do for birth control. I was down the road getting an IUD but after reading your post I definitely have second thoughts. I’ll probably just stick with NFP. Again, thanks so much for sharing your insight! Blessings, Eva

Cori Aug 19 at 12:35 pm

I had a terrible experience with an IUD! During my menses I had heavy bleeding and extremely painful cramps! Of course everyone has a different experience but it was terrible, I waited 6 months to see if it would get better but then got it our because I couldn’t deal with it! Would never do it again!

erickajen Aug 18 at 6:21 pm

years and years ago i had the pill. it made me nuts. they switched me to the other pill. still nuts.

when i had my son, we were going to wait a while before having another baby, so i got the mirena. that thing is THE DEVIL. i had TERRIBLE depression and anxiety!! having autism, those things are “accessories” to my autism anyway, but they were worse than i had ever had in my entire life, i ended up in counseling for it. (wanted to avoid medication) AND, when we finally had it removed (because we wanted to try for a 2nd finally, AND we had found a doctor who didnt use any hormonal BC, and started fertilitycare…

IT TOOK US A YEAR to get pregnant. my body wont make progesterone correctly anymore, even after getting pregnant (it took a shot to get pregnant and to ensure the pregnancy would keep!)

we did recently get pregnant again by accident, but to be honest, it was user error. i had no mucus but it still was in the middle of my cycle, i should have known better! STILL im having to suppliment progesterone to make sure nothing happens.

i dont care if i have 100 babies, nothing will EVER EVER EVER convince me to use any of those BC methods ever again. they SUCK, they make my life SUCK, and they ruined me. i dont need that, ive got enough crap in my life!

Hana Aug 18 at 4:49 pm

Thank you for posting this! I have been following your blog for years now and was kind of wondering when you would post about this topic, as it is something I am very passionate about.

My husband and I have been successfully practicing the Fertility Awareness Method (Symptoms Based Method in your article) for 3 years now and LOVE it. I am actually starting a business Health Coaching women in their 20’s and 30’s to find natural solutions for hormone balance to relieve painful periods or acne without having to go on the pill as so many doctors sadly recommend. I am also very passionate about women knowing that the Fertility Awareness Method is a viable option and I feel so much more freedom not having to be on the pill or use condoms all the time. I use the Kindara app to chart my cervical mucus and basal temp and then use condoms during my fertile window which is only about 5 days. Thank you for recommending the natural condoms you use. I will definitely switch!

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a must read! 🙂

I am curious why you decided against the vasectomy? I haven’t researched it at all, as we are not in that stage of life yet, but in your post you don’t really mention too many negatives besides possible pain as a risk after the procedure. Was there more to your decision or any sources you can suggest?

One of Michael’s friends has some adverse effects after getting a vasectomy. Then we learned that 15-20% of vasectomy patients report pain, sometimes years after procedure. It’s called post-vasectomy pain syndrome, and the symptoms can be from mild groin pain or irritation to debilitating, life-altering pain. So it doesn’t seem like the right option for us right now.

Joan Aug 19 at 10:36 pm

Oh, and to chime in about vasectomies-and I didn’t know about pain that could last for years (how awful), the view my husband and I have is that it interrupts the natural flow of things and doesn’t seem right to impede by surgery. Surgery creates scars which affect every other part of the body. If one doesn’t truly need surgery, why do it?

so condoms it will continue to be, after years of being on the pill in my 20’s, then diaphragm for several years, then baby-making, then condoms b/c that fits well with our lives right now.

Rebecca Aug 21 at 4:56 pm

Joan Aug 19 at 10:31 pm

Hear, hear about Taking Charge of Your Fertility! Excellent book. It helped us get pregnant. So much great, empowering information in it. I am so glad you reminded me about it because I am quite peri-menopausal and being aware of fertility in this most interesting time is very important.

Elizabeth Smith Aug 18 at 4:42 pm

I had 8 children the first 3, In Nov. they would have been 24,25,26 then the oldest would have been 27 in Dec.( 1988,90,91) I weaned them around 6 months old. Then I had a very bad miscarriage I am pretty sure were twins (they had to give me a blood transfusion) the 5th one I nursed a shorter time because she sucked her fingers and didn’t nurse as often. Then I had the next 3, I nursed them exclusively until they were 2 years old they were born in 94,96,98,01,03 ) After the 8th one I had my tubes tied.

Kallie Aug 18 at 11:43 pm

Sarah Aug 18 at 4:41 pm

I’m married 3 months and we’re currently using a copper iud as birth control as when speaking to my doctors they made out like that was my only option. I can’t take any hormones as I have a condition which causes laxity in connective tissues (joints, blood vessels, etc) and my symptoms are made worse by excess progesterone but also have migraines so can’t have estrogen. I’m currently not getting on well with the iud as it has given me bad bad period pain when I barely had any before, much heavier and longer periods and I’m currently struggling with pain in my cervix and pain during sex which is being investigated but I and my husband think is probably to do with the iud. Going to get it out as soon as possible. So I was looking at this for our options when this is out. Natural method seems okay if combined with condoms on the fertile days as not keen on 10 days with no sex tbh. And I guess it’ll be okay as an unplanned pregnancy wouldn’t be a problem as we want kids but I can see how it’s a very hard decision to make when you know you definitely don’t want any more. I so wish I hadn’t gotten this iud as I never had any problems with my period or anything before and I felt so lucky in that respect. I hope it goes back to normal when I get it out! My doctors just made it seem like it was a great thing with no bad things. I should’ve done more research but I usually trust what doctors say.

Britt Jul 31 at 8:17 pm

So sorry to hear about your experiences with the copper IUD. I removed mine myself a few years ago. I was having lots of health problems that Drs. finally decided was “anxiety and panic attacks” After lots of research I read about copper toxicity. I have not had another “panic attack” in 3 years since removing the IUD. Coincidence? I think not.

Caitlin Aug 18 at 4:15 pm

Natalie Aug 18 at 4:06 pm

Thanks for this post Genevieve! My hubby and I use NFP and I have always wondered what we will do post baby. My sister got pregnant with baby #2 and #3 from her first ovulation post birth (read: no menstruation for 6-7 years…yikes!) and I would like a little more time between pregnancies if possible. There seems to be very few natural options out there – but it is good to hear that condoms and NFP are working for you.

Breanna Aug 18 at 3:56 pm

Thank you for this post!!! Almost a year ago, I was 6 weeks pp, I had the Mirena put in. I had the worst experience ever!! My moods were up and down, I was fatigued, I had no control over my emotions and no sex drive. It’s been 8monthd since I had it removed and I’m still trying to balance my hormones, which is so difficult by the way. I can’t seem to find a natural way to go about this! I also never knew so many horrible things about condoms. Great info.!!!!

Jasmine Aug 18 at 3:55 pm

I would say that this is an ok article meaning that telling women not to go on something like the pill or the IUD can be dangerous. Many people use the pill not just for birth control but to get better and not die. I will also say that just because it can have effects doesn’t mean it will for everyone. The pill has been wonderful for me and when I did go off of it, I didn’t have any issues. To not be bias in your work. I would give the benefits also. You should talk about how the pill save lives, you should talk to doctors and you should talk to people who have to take it or have been taking it. When it comes to the IUD it can also be good for people, it didn’t work for me but just because it doesn’t work for one person doesn’t mean it doesn’t work for someone else. Again say the benefits and not just the bad about it. Saying the negative is great, it lets people know what it can do yet again you can’t just give one side of the coin. These options are best for some people, especially for younger people who doesn’t want to worry about tracking when they are fertile or when they get their periods. I’m not trying to be mean or negative just saying how I feel. At least you gave many options which is good since many articles don’t.

Allison Aug 18 at 5:07 pm

This article was very biased. While we all of try to be a natural as possible, natural family planning is a difficult science that does not work for everyone. For me, I have found that mirena is amazing. Previously I was on the pill, but researched and found that a mirena has significantly less hormones and is more effective. I had one put in 3 years ago. At first I experienced bad cramping, but after a couple months the pain was completely gone and my periods became light. I don’t have to worry about counting days or determining my fertility, but most importantly I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.

Colette Aug 20 at 7:35 am

Sorry but in what way does the pill save lives that natural methods and proper nutrition can’t? I’m curious. Also after coming off the pill I was diagnosed with pcos was fine before. Anyway please tell. We use condoms (will switch brands thanks mama!) And withdraw method combined

Jessica Pape Aug 20 at 2:24 pm

“the pill saves lives”, however, there are ALSO other alternatives to most reasons why doctors prescribe the pill… Sadly; most people don’t know of those alternatives, or thrust their doctors a little too much.

Claudia Aug 18 at 3:53 pm

I recommend the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. I have to used to both avoid and achieve pregnancies with great success. Like you mention in your post, it is a mucus only method which is easy to learn and interpret. This method can be use by any woman from the time her cycle begins up to menopause. A lot of times women use to maintain their gynocological health. This method is also coupled with NaproTechnology, in which medical professionals can help women deal with many gynocological issues (endometriosis, painful periods, PCOD, fibroids, irregular bleeding, infertility etc.) in a more natural way without just suppressing symptoms with hormonal contraception. This method can also be used effectvely while breastfeeding! For women who are interested, you can look for an instructor near your area that can meet with you (one-on-one) to teach you the system in a tailored way specific to your reproductive category (breastfeeding, menopause, infertility, etc.) I highly recommend it to the natural mamas out there looking for an effective, scientifically based method of family planning.

Gail @ Rese Activewear Aug 18 at 2:19 pm

This is such a big decision that so many of us have to make, thanks so much for posting about this. I have not heard all of those warnings about the pill and it was an eye opener for me. This was super informative and left me with a lot to think about. Very nice article.

Shell Aug 18 at 10:19 am

Kudos to many of your posts that are truly helpful in many areas of life, but this most recent does heed a bit of caution.

Please note that the CC is very specific on the teachings of birth control and you can accidentally mislead many with false views. The Church’s teaching on natural birth control or natural family planning is summarized in Canon 1013 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. It states that “the primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children.” The intention of having children, provided that this is possible, is consequently essential to the very substance of the matrimonial contract, which is for “acts which are in themselves capable of engendering children” (Cf. Canon 1081, 7577 Code of Canon Law). Interpreting the law, the Church allowed periodic use of natural family planning for sufficiently grave reasons, such as serious medical or psychological reasons. A couple had to consult with a priest to receive permission for using the method. Now, I ask: Morally speaking, what is essentially the difference between this situation and that of an unmarried couple who are living together just to enjoy sexual relations? Insofar as people virtually set aside the end of having offspring, is this marriage not participating in the sin of Onanism? As the reader may recall, Onan was killed by God because he deliberately avoided offspring in his marriage. Only after this effusive praise for NFP do we read that there really are no “less good” ways to contracept since “the Church rejects all artificial means of contraception – namely, chemical methods (“the Pill”), mechanical methods (for example, condom, intra-uterine device, or IUD), and surgical methods (sterilization).”

Reasons for this rejection are framed in the questionable theology of the body language of JPII. It “blocks the total self-giving of husband and wife” and does not allow “giving oneself in personal totality.”

But sex is more than the wedding vows made flesh. It is also a reflection of the life-giving love of the Trinity. In the words of Carlo Cardinal Martini, “In the Bible, the man-woman couple is not meant to be simply a preservation of the species, as is the case for the other animals. Insofar as it was called to become the image and likeness of God, it expresses in a bodily, tangible way the face of God, which is Love.”[3] http://www.jasonevert.com/

Rose Aug 19 at 2:33 pm

I understood that per Catholic teaching, sex should be two things: 1) unitive, and 2) procreative. The CC doesn’t like birth control because it takes away #2 there. Your response disregards the unitive aspect of sex — but it’s a really important aspect! You make it sound like the CC only approves of sex for making babies, which isn’t exactly accurate … it’s for unifying husband and wife, too (which is the sacrament, and all that.)! Actually, you make it sound like the CC only approves of MARRIAGE for the express purpose of making babies, which I’m pretty sure is not accurate either. That just can’t be right. That would be terribly unhealthy for everyone involved.

Colette Aug 20 at 7:42 am

Exactly I’m not Catholic but I’m religious and I must say that when you know you don’t want children anymore you know! In my example it’s health reasons. Coping mentally reasons and financial reasons. I hope God understands my reasons and I am glad I made these choices beca use too many people I know have too manychildren for them to handle and they couldn’t get by without government support (I’m in the uk wages get topped up per child) and family help… which I have a lack of. So the kids get neglected emotionally because they are not getting quality time. I know my limit is 1. I want to raise 1 good rounded person. Not have many I can’t be there fully for

Jay Aug 23 at 4:18 pm

One does not have to get permission from a Priest to use NFP. Grave reasons is usually mistranslated. The Church stance is on serious reasons. What is serious for one couple is not for another, thus there is no list of what is acceptable. The couple is to dicern their family size with prayer. This topic comes up a lot in the Catholic circles.

Christine Aug 18 at 10:33 pm

Anna Aug 19 at 3:02 am

Robin Aug 17 at 10:58 pm

I prefer to use the pill. While the extra hormones can cause problems for some, it can be very helpful for others like me whose hormones are a bit out of whack. I suffered from PMDD and extremely painful cramps for a long time before my doctor suggested the pill and it has changed my life completely. I feel so much better now. The nice thing about the pill is that they come in different doses and ratios of hormones (unlike an IUD– tried that once and my body rejected it) so you can use the one that’s right for your body. The first time I went off the pill it was rough and I got pretty sick, but since then I’ve been on and off as necessary for family planning and my body seems to adjust just fine. I understand why many natural mamas would be against any sort of long term medication that controls hormones, but for me, my hormones are more balanced this way and it has been great for me and my family.

Claudia Aug 18 at 3:58 pm

Robin, if you are ever interested in dealing with PMDD in a different way, look into learning the Creighton Model FertiliCare System. There are doctors out there who are educated in NaproTechnology which uses the woman’s charting of her cycles along with other techonologies to help find the root of the problem and a way to fix it without the house of the birth control pill. This is good for mamas who are weary of the side effects or long-term effects. Let me know if you need help findind a teacher in your area!

Jessica Aug 18 at 4:38 pm

Marissa Mar 27 at 8:26 pm

I was looking for a comment similar to this. My hormones have never been normal, taking the pill has literally changed my life for the better. I’ve lost nearly 30lbs with exercise and diet (before I was eating super clean and exercising 3-5 times a week…with zero losses.). My moods are amazing – I’m just in general a more plesant person. I make too much testosterone, so having the extra estrogen balanced things out for me. I also have in IUD, the Mirena (so, with hormones.) The two combined have prevented pregnancy, helped with weight loss, cleared my skin, and helped my moods! Perhaps not natural, but my body was a train wreck from birth! Literally the only bad thing is my seizure meds have to be a bit higher as the pill reduces absorption, but even so, I have found a good dose and my seizures are 98% gone!

Shereen Jun 3 at 2:57 pm

Heather Aug 17 at 10:52 pm

To any women still considering an IUD after reading this, please please don’t get one!! Not only did I have insanely bad copper toxicity after 7 years with Paragard, but it also became embedded in my uterus and I had to have it surgically removed. Because of the copper toxicity, I gained weight, felt tired and sluggish almost every day (while eating an incredibly healthy diet), and completely lost my sex drive (vaginal dryness included). Please choose another form of birth control!

Cynthia Aug 18 at 10:04 am

This happened to me too with the copper toxicity, but it also punctured my uterus. I have never been the same and that was 15 years ago. I also was diagnosed with endomtriosis after that, not sure if it caused it or not. Buyer beware.

Christin, WHNP Jul 11 at 6:11 pm

As a WHNP for the last 5 years, I would still recommend the Paragard as one of the only effective non-hormonal options. This is the only form none of my patients have complained about except for heavy periods. Also, removal is very easy, so if any of these symptoms develop, it can be easily taken out. Of note, we need copper as a mineral and none of the Paragard copper is detectable in the blood stream, so it is a very low level.

Amber Aug 17 at 8:26 pm

I use the diaphragm and have done so for about eight years. It works great for me. I used to use the nasty spermicides with it until the past year when I discovered Contragel Green Contraceptive Gel. It is a European product that you can get online. It has safe natural ingredients and so far has worked great. I think this is one of the most natural ways to go without compromising pleasure.

maranda Nov 22 at 1:12 am

I’m glad to see someone else knows about Contragel! N9 is far too harsh and caused both me and my husband irritation, so I had to find something else. I have to order it from Canada or Europe, but it is well worth it!

Jo Aug 1 at 12:01 am

I wish this article was a little more positive about diaphragm:) We have used for years with great success even with nothing (no spermicide). I have been wanting to try Contragel though! I think I will sometime! We have also used aloe Vera with it.